NOVEL NEXT Chapter 238: Picking Peaches
Han Zheng's return to Smoke Wave Prefecture could be said to have let everyone breathe a sigh of relief.
With Han Zheng around, they felt completely different than when he wasn't there, especially Pei Xiuyuan, who felt this most acutely.
It could only be said that the sense of security that Han Zheng brought to them was unmatched by others.
After returning to Smoke Wave Prefecture, Han Zheng first organized and summarized the events that had taken place during his absence into a report and sent it to the head office of the Demon Cleansing Bureau.
His mission in Smoke Wave Prefecture could be considered perfectly completed, and it was enough to provide a satisfactory explanation to his superiors.
With the remaining time, Han Zheng was thoroughly free and began to cultivate the Blood Shadow Floating Light Technique and the Three-Life Breaking Tribulation Finger, preparing to enter the late stage of the Xuan Gang Realm.
Han Zheng had only recently acquired these two cultivation techniques and needed to increase his skill level.
And, after the battles of this period, Han Zheng's cultivation had stabilized, and the medicinal power that had accumulated in his body was completely digested; it was time to prepare to step into the late stage of the Xuan Gang Realm.
The resources obtained from the Yue Family and the Yuwen Family were so abundant that they were more than enough for stepping into the late stage of the Xuan Gang Realm and even into the Dan Sea Realm.
Suddenly, Han Zheng felt a certain pity for the Xuanjia Guards of Kai Ping Prefecture's Demon Cleansing Bureau.
They could only use merit to exchange for some resources; where could they enjoy such abundant resources like those who garrison a region?
However, if Han Zheng's thoughts were known to other Demon Sweeping Captains or Garrison Captains, they would surely spit in his face.
Those who garrisoned a region would be considered meritorious just by ensuring there were no problems, and they would receive excellent evaluations from the head office every year and just wait for their promotions.
Who would dare to stir up trouble like Han Zheng, eliminating a sect one day, wiping out a family the next?
One misstep, and not only could their prospects be gone, but their very lives would be at risk.
Thus, Han Zheng waited for half a month but still did not receive a reply from Kai Ping Prefecture.
While Han Zheng wondered, could there be a problem on Kai Ping Prefecture's end? It shouldn't be the case, he hadn't heard anything.
Wen Tingyun and Xu Cunbao were not the kind to drag their feet; upon receiving his report, they would surely respond immediately.
At that moment, Pei Xiuyuan suddenly came running over excitedly to knock on the door.
"Sir, someone from Kai Ping Prefecture's head office has arrived! It's Lady Wen Tingyun herself!"
Although Wen Tingyun was young, her reputation was huge within the entire Demon Cleansing Bureau of Kai Ping Prefecture, everyone knew her as the main caretaker of the whole Southern Mountain Demon Cleansing Department.
Moreover, some of Wen Tingyun's measures had greatly increased the strength of the entire Southern Mountain Demon Cleansing Department, so her outside prestige was no less than within the head office.
Han Zheng was slightly surprised, not expecting that Wen Tingyun would come in person.
As soon as he stepped out of the door, Wen Tingyun was already standing in the courtyard.
Wen Tingyun was now dressed in the Profound Gold Swallowing Lion Armor, which only a Garrison Captain could wear.
Despite wearing the Xuan Armor, it did not cover up Wen Tingyun's plump and fit figure.
Moreover, this Profound Gold Swallowing Lion Armor added a touch of martial valor and evil Qi to her, making her even more radiant and eye-catching.
"Han Zheng, long time no see. I didn't expect you to do such an excellent job in Smoke Wave Prefecture.
Even the Great Elder Xu has praised you as the most outstanding young person in this generation of the Southern Mountain Demon Cleansing Department, whether in strength or capability."
Wen Tingyun looked at Han Zheng with a light smile, her eyes full of delight.
This time, Han Zheng had indeed brought a big surprise to her and Xu Cunbao.
The affairs of Smoke Wave Prefecture were complicated and chaotic, not something that changed into this state overnight but went back to the time when the Black Mountain Demon caused chaos in Southern Mountain.
The leaders of Smoke Wave Prefecture over the generations had been mediocre or some ambitious Demon Sweeping Captains, but none had completely resolved the issues.
Even Liao Hongsheng, who had found some problems from the past, did not manage to uncover everything before dying at the hands of Zhao Rongye and Yuwen Xizhen.
Only Han Zheng, in less than three months, found out the cause of Liao Hongsheng's death, unearthed past affairs, and completely took control of Smoke Wave Prefecture.
This was no longer simply excellent, it was truly astonishing.
Such achievements were not only extraordinary among the younger generation of Southern Mountain but also among the entire young generation of the Demon Cleansing Department.
"Thank you very much for your praise, Mr. Wen. In the end, I have not let you and Great Grandmaster Xu down."
Wen Tingyun nodded slightly and said, "Where is this Eternal Youth Spring? Take me to see it first."
Han Zheng immediately took Wen Tingyun to the Yuwen Family in Tingtao Valley.
This place had already been completely sealed off, with a Team Leader from the Smoke Wave Prefecture Demon Cleansing Department leading more than ten Xuanjia Guards in shifts to garrison it.
Wen Tingyun looked at the eerie Eternal Youth Spring and slightly furrowed her brow.
Moments later, she set up an array, and the array glowed with golden light, which directly excavated the Eternal Youth Spring from underground, then layers of golden light completely enveloped it, and Wen Tingyun put it into the Qiankun Bag.
"This thing is too sinister, and keeping it is always a hidden danger. I will take it back to headquarters for research."
Han Zheng asked, "Mr. Wen, what exactly is this Eternal Youth Spring, and what's with Thousand Buddha Village? You are well-learned and knowledgeable; have you done any research on this?"
Previously, Han Zheng had told Wen Tingyun all about Thousand Buddha Village, of course, omitting the matter of Yan Xuankong and simply saying that he was fortunate to find the statue of the Kitchen God and managed to escape thanks to divine protection.
Wen Tingyun pondered for a moment and said, "It's difficult to say where this thing comes from, but it might be a kind of outer domain demon. I have discovered in some ancient texts that during Ancient Times in that legendary era, there were indeed legends of outer domain demons descending and clashing with the demons of the Great Thousand World.
Likewise, in Ancient Times, there were such sinister entities appearing in the world, whose powers were vastly different from ours. Some were less harmful, others more terrifying than demons.
The harm caused by Thousand Buddha Village is relatively minor, at least it only harmed the people of a village and then retreated into a small world, having no impact on the Great Thousand World.
It's only because the Black Mountain Demon brought this thing out that all sorts of disasters ensued.
Next time you encounter such a thing, you must be cautious, as these outer domain demons can't be assessed by cultivation levels."
Han Zheng nodded, suddenly feeling that this world was incredibly dangerous. Not to mention demons, these outer domain demons were even more unpredictable than ordinary demons.
At this moment, Wen Tingyun suddenly said, "Actually, Great Grandmaster Xu and I received your report a while ago. Do you know why I've only come now?"
Han Zheng shook his head.
That was what he was puzzled about. Neither Wen Tingyun nor Xu Cunbao were known for procrastination, so why did it take so long for them to respond?
"Because during this time, Great Grandmaster Xu and I have been discussing your assignment. You may no longer be able to stay in the Smoke Wave Prefecture Demon Cleansing Department. The higher-ups have already decided to have someone else take over the Smoke Wave Prefecture."
As she spoke, Wen Tingyun did not look at Han Zheng, seemingly feeling that such a decision was somewhat excessive.
When the Smoke Wave Prefecture was in chaos, they had sent Han Zheng to solve the problem. Now that Han Zheng had finally managed to stabilize the situation, all he needed to do was to sit tight and accumulate experience and merit, and then focus on his cultivation.
Yet at such a moment, they decided to transfer him away. This wasn't just about being inconsiderate, it was outright excessive!
Han Zheng didn't get angry but asked with a slight frown, "Why? Neither you nor Great Grandmaster Xu would make such a decision."
Han Zheng trusted the integrity of Wen Tingyun and Xu Cunbao. They were not the type to discard someone after they had served their purpose.
Wen Tingyun sighed and said, "Many things have happened at headquarters during your absence. The biggest issue is that the other three Garrison Commandants have returned.
The Smell Fragrance Sect's rebellion has been suppressed by the Demon Cleansing Bureau, and with people from the Capital Demon Suppression Department coordinating with Chen Zhenfu and the surrounding Demon Cleansing Departments, the Huainan Road has almost been retaken.
Thus, Huainan Road doesn't need that many people anymore; only Garrison Commanders and other Yang God Realm Great Grandmasters remain, preparing to pursue and eliminate the higher-ups of the Smell Fragrance Sect.
Those three Garrison Commandants and their disciples have accrued considerable merits, and now that they have returned, they naturally deserve promotion.
The position in Smoke Wave Prefecture ordinarily wouldn't count as a desirable place, situated at the border with unstable conditions.
But since you have now resolved the coastal demons and bandits, stabilizing the Martial World forces around, making Smoke Wave Prefecture's situation steady, and with spirit fields and mines continuing to bring steady profits, Smoke Wave Prefecture has become one of the few State Mansions in Southern Mountain with the greatest development potential.
Therefore, your position has been eyed by one of the four Garrison Commandants, the 'Heavenly Evil Spear' Wu Yunfei, intending to hand it over to his disciple Cui Zeyuan to manage.
Cui Zeyuan was considered an outstanding young figure of the Demon Cleansing Department in Southern Mountain, on par with Su Wuming.
After the suppression of the Smell Fragrance Sect's rebellion, he also made rapid advancements in cultivation, stepping into the Middle Stage of the Xuan Gang Realm, and in terms of strength, he is fully qualified to take over Smoke Wave Prefecture."